Liquid fluid atomizer



1934- A. H. RUFE LIQUID FLUID ATOMIZER Original Filed Jan. 14, 1929 gmw Auaus m H [Pl/FE.

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNlTED "STATES LIQUID FLUID ATOMIZEB Augustus 11. Rufe, Doyleltown. Pa.

Beflled for abandoned application Serial No. 332,498, January 14, 1929. This application September 3, 1932, Serial No. 931,697

1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in liquid fluid atomizers, applicable to many uses, but designed particularly for use in liquid fuel burners of that general type known as oil burners.

The subject matter of this case is the same as that disclosed in my prior application Ser. No. 332,498 filed January 14, 1929.

The invention relates to that type of atomizer in which the fuel is ejected from the orifice of the atomizer in the form of a finely divided spray. The main objects of the invention are to increase the fineness of atomization, to eliminate the tendency to carbonize and to increase the efficiency by decreasing the frictional resistance within the atomizer passages so that the atomized oil leaves the nozzle orifice with exceedingly high velocity thereby forming a conical jet having any angle up to about ninety degrees.

The invention has for its object, among others, to provide a liquid fluid burner or atomizer, simple in its nature, yet most efflcient in its operation.

One of the essential features of the device is the provision of obtaining constant clearance for more perfect atomization and at the same time permitting change in volume, either more or less, without affecting constant clearance and perfect atomization. The relative proportions of the parts are the same in all instances, provision being made to guard against superfluous flow of the liquid, the amount of flow being controlled not by the employment of a metering pin to change the proportion, but when once regulated, the parts are fixed and no variation in flow is permitted.

Another advantage of my invention is that there is no limit to size, whereas in the ordinary atomizer, if the size of the outlet is increased over a certain diameter the liquid will come out in larger particles, whereaswith this atomizer by keeping the clearance between the periphery of the pin and the outlet of the cap constant the atomization of the oil remains the same.

Another purpose of my invention is to be able to increase the capacity of the atomizer, all parts being proportioned larger, provision for greater volume being obtained by greater passages, such as the chamber 14, and 16 and the outlet from the cap, but the clearance between the periphery of the needle and the outlet of the cap remaining constant. By this means notwithstanding the increased size of the passages just referred to and maintaining the constant clearance, I obtain perfect atomization of the fuel without any increase of pressure.

I aim at simplicity in construction, uniformity in action, dispensing with the necessity of constant regulation or changes, accomplishing perfect atomization, and this, with a simplified construction of few parts and such parts not requiring attention, to insure the proper atomization.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention, in its preferred form, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon forms a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a substantially longitudinal section through an atomizer embodying my present in- 4 Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 designates the burner tube or body, 2 being the oil feed tube communicating with the passageway 3 which in turn communicates with the interior of the member 1.

4 is a tubular member having threaded engagement at the sides with one end of the member 1 receiving at its outer end a nut 6 with provision for packing when necessary. This is internally threaded. The member 4 is internally threaded as at 7 for cooperation with the threads 8 on the needle-point adjusting spindle 9, all as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The inner end of the member 9 has attached thereto as at 10 one end of the member '11 carrying at its outer end the metering pin 18. 12 is the needle valve, see Figures 1 and 2.

13 is an' oil distributing and whirling member which has a snug or tight fit within the outer ends of the member 1, the same being designed to be tightly forced into the member 1 and its relative position remains unchanged throughout the operation of the device.

The member 13 is provided with longitudinal passages 14, in the present instance shown as four in number, although this number may be varied as desired or as circumstances may require, the effect being the same in all cases. These passages 14 extend longitudinally of the member 13 and while shown in the present instance as being disposed in the outer periphery of such member 13, the same effect would be produced if they were passages extending within the member 13 and not peripherally disposed, that shown, perhaps, may be found most desirable.

The front end of the distributor is tapered and this front end is .cut to form a frustro-conical marginal portion 15 surrounding a reduced conical central portion 17 bordered by a shoulder 16. The marginal portion 15 has face to face contact with the conical inner face of a head 20 mounted at the front end of the casing or body 1 by a cap nut 21 andthe central portion 17 is spaced from the head and defines achamber 23. Forward end portions of the passages 14 extend across the marginal portion 15 at a tangent thereto and open through the shoulder 16 into the chamber 23. Therefore oil will pass through the chamber with a whirling motion to the outlet port 22 at the center of the head. As the distributor is stationary in the casing, the dimensions of the chamber will at all times be the same and a film of oil under a predetermined pressure will whirl through the chamber at a constant speed and volume to the outlet port'which flares outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The stem 11 which is shiftable through the bore 12 of. the distributor projects forwardly therefrom into the chamber 23 and has a frustro-conical 'end 19from which projects the tapered metering pin 18. This pin passes through the outlet port 22 in axial alinement therewith and the fuel passes out through the port about the pin in the form of a cloud the dimensions and shape of which is controlled by the position of the pin end portion 19 of the stem relative to the outlet port. The inner end of the port defines a valve seat against which the portion 19 of the stem can bear to shut off flow of fuel through the outlet when the stem is shifted forwardly. a sufficient distance and it should be noted that since the whirling fuel strikes this portion of the stem before passing through the outlet about the pin cooperation exists between the pin and the tapered end of the stern which very eflectively controls the size and shape of the ejected cloud of fuel. As the stem is shiftable through a stationary distributor flow of fuel through the outlet can be regulated without varying the capacity of the chamber 23 and due to this special construction and arrangement of parts the burner can be operated without roar and also without an accumulation of carbon being formed and clogging the burner.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the point of the metering pin 18 as at 24 formed integrally with the member 25 to correspond with the member 13 as hereinbefore described. This will serve efliciently in lieu of the metering pin hereinbefore described, for the reason that the same is not required for adjustment in operation, the parts being relatively proportioned and fixed before the device is assembled, and requires no adjustment or alteration during the life of the device. It serves to provide clearance, see Fig. 2, and as hereinbefore stated, no adjustment of the member 13 is required after the device is completed and ready for use, as where greater volume is required theparts are relatively proportioned before they are assembled, all the parts being proportioned larger, but the clearance is maintained constant, irrespective of the diameter of the discharge opening, the pin being correspondingly enlarged, provision for greater volume being obtained by greater passages such as 14, channeled such as 16, and the outlet from the cap, but the clearance between the periphery of the needle and the outlet of the cap remaining constant. In this way, notwithstanding the increased size of the passages just referred to, by maintaining the clearance constant, I obtain perfect atomization of the fuel which would not be obtained if distributing or whirling member.

carbon deposits on any part; absolutely noiseless dependence were placed on the adjustment of the metering pin which would necessarily increase the clearance. I obtain the necessary .increase in volume by reason of the greater area and hence do not require adjustment of the metering pin, thelatter remaining in the same relative position regardless of the necessity to accommodate the varying conditions. That is, any desired increase in volume is had by replacing the ported disk 20, memberv l3, and metering pin 18 or 24 by corresponding parts having passageways of larger cross-sectional area, but having the same clearance between the metering pin and the clearance between the pin and the periphery of the port. By. changing the taper of the metering pin and the angle ofthe face of the member 13. and cor responding face of the cap, aflame of any desired shape may be formed. I

In view of the above, it will be readily observed that the construction shown in Fig. 4 in which the terminal 24 is integral with the member 25, will serve equally as well as in cases where the metering pin is formed independently of the oil The parts are readily assembled and as readily disassembled when necessary and are capable of manufacture at minimum expense.

In designing an atomizer it is advisable to control it so that it will discharge theoil in a certain sized'shape, sometimes it should be long and narrow, and sometimes long and wide or, of equal length and width. e

In my atomizer I am able to do this by changing the angle of the cone-shaped member 13, Fig. 1,

and the taper of the point to procure the desired shape.

In an atomizer where the oil is broken up in a finely-divided spray, as the size of the flame is increased, the flame becomes more noisy (even to a roar) which roar or noise is caused by the expansion of the small oil bubbles.

In my atomizer, I have, in actual operation, been able to produce a flame, any size, free from this objectional roar, because it atomizes the oil not in a finely-divided spray, but in a fog.

The operation of this device is as followsz-The liquid or fuel under pressure is admitted into the body, through the passage 3 and is forced through the longitudinal passages 14 which are disposed tangentially to the face of the member 13 with the annular channel or chamber under pressure so that a violent whirling motion is set up which separates or breaks up the oil into exceedingly fine particles and in this form it is expelled through the atomizer outlet in the form of a conical mist, having any angle .up to 90 degrees, like a fog.

This atomizer, after being in operation for the past year, upon dismantling, showed no signs of in operation, produces a flame of white heat intensity, and they boiler in which it was used showed no signs of any soot deposits.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not 1 0 terms of limitations, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalence of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and I am aware that various modifications in detail of parts, or the device as a whole, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed as new is:-

A fuel atomizer comprising a tubular casing, a cap for the front end of said casing formed with a central outlet port tapered inwardly and defining a valve seat at its inner end, said cap having a conical inner surface converging to the outlet, a side port constituting a fuel inlet being provided intermediate the ends of said casing, a distributor fitting snugly within the forward portion of said casing in permanent location therein with its rear end spaced forwardly from the inlet, said distributor having an axial bore aligned with the outlet and the front end of the distributor being tapered towards the bore and formed with a frustro-conical marginal portion in face to face engagement with the inner face of the cap and a central conical portion offset from the marginal portion, and bordered by an annular shoulder, and, together with the opposed portion of the cap defining a chamber about the outlet of permanent dimensions, fuel passages being formed longitudinally of the distributor with their forward portions extending across the marginal portion of its front end at a tangent to said shoulder and opening through the shoulder into said chamber, and a longitudinally shiftable stem extending through the bore of said distributor with its front end projecting therefrom and terminating in a frustro-conical end, which seats against the valve seat when the stem is shifted forwardly and carries a centrally located tapered pin extending through the outlet.

AUGUSTUS H. RUFE. 

